#tg ch8

[kyanitedragon]

Paying close attention to what is specifically said out loud for Hide to hear, and wow, Kaneki really gave him no indication that he was ever human, huh?

[ID: As Nishiki strangles him, Kaneki struggles and says "You mean... I was going to eat Hide? Who in the hell would do something like that?" Then he screams "I'm different from you!" End ID]

He never denies being a ghoul here, shockingly. Despite being all he ever says around Touka. The most he says here is "I'm different", but that comes off much more as "not cruel like you are" and not "I'm human unlike you".

[ID: Nishiki stamps on Hide's unconcious head as he rants "This guy has been your friend for a long time, hasn't he? Just when the hell were you planning to eat him? Waiting for a situation where you could attack him? The place is important too, isn't it? How about telling your senpai, Kaneki? What were you planning to do? Huh? Huh?! Spoiling another's meal plan is the best kind of feeling." Kaneki finally soeaks, saying "He's not food." Nishiki asks "Huh?" and Kaneki shakes as he screams "Get your foot off of him...!" End ID]

He does get pretty pissed off on Hide's behalf and makes it clear that he sees him as a person and friend. But again, he doesn't give any indication of himself being human.

[ID: Nishiki walks closer as he asks "Why are you 'pretending to be friends with some food? Is it fun to you?" Heavily wounded and weak, Kaneki mutters "It's not... It's not pretending..." End ID]

And again. He keeps it short and simple. He's "not pretending" to be his friend, and no specification beyond that.

And then worst of all, in his madness he ends up parroting what Nishiki said earlier. "It's my long awaited meal." Taken out of context, it really gives the impression that Nishiki had been right about him all along, huh?

[ID: Kaneki stumbles forward towards Hide as his kakugan throbs, and he says "Ahh, hahac thatms true... It'd be crazy to pass it up... Look... It's my long awaited meal, isn't it?" End ID]

But thankfully for both of them, Touka swoops in at just the right time and explains that Kaneki doesn't mean what he's saying

[ID: Two pages. Touka lands in the alley, glaring at Kaneki. He glares back and harshly says "Move." Touka walks toward him and says "Seems you're become pretty reprehensible. You dumbass. The pain and hunger drowns out all reason... and it's so painful you'd rather die, right?" On the next image she continues as Kaneki takes a defensive fighting stance. "in order to be released from that agony, it doesn't matter what it takes, even if it means using your friend's life, right? And then agter you've gobbled him down you'd be left alone to regret it, while covered in blood and guys. That's the hunger of a ghoul. That's our destiny. ...I'm really tired of it." She strips off her coat and releases her kagune as she finishes "...This time I'll help you out." End ID]

During Yoshimura and Kaneki's chat in Anteiku, they outright talk about Kaneki being part human and half ghoul and all the struggles but also hopes that comes with. So ultimately Hide does know the gist.

But I'm sure there were a good couple hours there where Hide thought he was right back in Chapter 1. That all along, Kaneki was a full ghoul only pretending to be human.

[ID: From chapter 1, Hide smiles happily and jokes "Kaneki, maybe you're a ghoul!" Kaneki replies, "Idiot. If I were a ghoul, I think you would be very dead, Hide." End ID]

[paulmezcal]

alright, babes, tg hea has been posted so we are finally make a new word doc for limits ch8. pray for me.

[birgittesilverbae]

The Sword Thing

I think I’ve vagued about this pretty often, so it’s time to throw down. There is a whole-ass Thing about giving women (namely Elayne, Siuan, and Birgitte) swords in TGS/TOM/AMOL and it violates established characterization and just plain common sense.

To set the scene, let’s take a look at Mat dealing with untrained soldiers during the Last Battle (AMOL, ch36).

These boys are clamouring to learn the sword, because that’s the Pinnacle of Weaponry in their eyes and How Can You Fight Without a Sword? You’d think this scene, with the Light’s General-to-be trashing the idea of chucking swords at raw recruits, would be consistent with the actions of other leaders, but alas.

Elayne

Elayne has been previously established as subconsciously defaulting to the sword (LOC, ch7) when faced with overwhelming odds and needing to screw her courage to the sticking place (entering a nightmare of her own volition), but she’s also specifically called out as not knowing how to use a sword.

Despite this, she steps onto the field at Tarmon Gai’don with sword in hand on two separate occasions. The first time, she uses it as a prop to direct her army (AMOL, ch10). I’ll let this one slide, because that’s exactly the level of dramatic you can expect from Elayne on any given day.

The second time, however, is nonsensical. Elayne herself, in her own internal monologue, notes that using a sword would be stupid because she doesn’t know how to wield one (AMOL, ch40).

She has the whole of the One Power at her fingertips, and her lines are breaking, but she chooses instead to physically fight Trollocs.

Her explanation, when Birgitte calls her out on it? That her men are fleeing and being that stupid might be what it took to give them pause.

I would think that the mere fact they’re neckdeep in the battle to save the world would be enough to keep soldiers from turning tail. If not, how does risking your life in some idiot attempt at ‘bravery’ that would only be visible to a few soldiers nearby outweigh using powers that could easily turn the tide in favour of your troops?

Siuan

Siuan’s opinion on swords is established very early on (TGH, ch18). She’s taken the time to consider whether learning the blade would be of any use to her and landed firmly in the negative.

So why is her subconscious response to being in Elaida’s study (a situation she’s long since come to terms with, seeing as she’s been spying there for close on a year at this point) while thinking about Leane and Alric to conjure a sword for herself? (TGS, ch8)

Even were dwelling like this in character (which it’s not), her weapon of choice would not be a sword.

Later in the book (TGS, ch18), we’re presented with another mind-bogglingly nonsensical situation. Gareth Bryne, supposedly one of the Great Generals, has decided to teach her how to use a sword.

Firstly, Bryne knows full-well that Tarmon Gai’don is fast approaching. Wanting Siuan to have a way to physically protect herself, should the Power fail her? Valid. Thinking that weapon should be a sword? Which he definitely doesn’t have time to teach her properly, and which she definitely would be at a disadvantage using against trained soldiers and Trollocs?? (Not to mention this passage directly referencing the TGH conversation, which again begs the question of how she ends up with sword in hand in TAR)

These are especially jarring put up alongside the evidence that Siuan understands implicitly the new limits imposed on her by the significant decrease in power she’d been saddled with, and has determined how she can fight within those constraints (AMOL, ch37).

But sure, what this 5′5″ Aes Sedai needs is a sword.

Birgitte

Her name is not Birgitte Silversword.

This is the most egregious of the three to me simply because I had the highest hopes for the choice to give her a sword actually being meaningful.

Birgitte has repeatedly refused a sword on the grounds that is has never ended well for her (WH, ch7; WH, ch27). She has never trained in the sword and is not at all comfortable wearing one.

Birgitte first carries a sword in the Andoran palace (TOM, ch22)

and again on the Field of Merrilor (AMOL, ch1)

Discarding the bow in these circumstances is warranted, but instead putting a sword in her hands when Elayne’s life is on the line? A weapon she is definitely untrained in?

If only there were another close-quarters assassination attempt Birgitte had stymied that we could look to for weapon choice. Oh, wait! There is one (ACOS, ch29).

Birgitte’s performance? So exceptional that she comes out unruffled and unharmed. Her weapon of choice? An easily hidden knife.

But wait, you say, her hesitance to carry a sword is rooted in her memories, and aren’t those deteriorating rapidly (AMOL, ch37)?

Wouldn’t it then be deliciously painful if she chose to wear a sword, unable to recall that it has always, always ended badly for her to do so? Wouldn’t that be a nice little bit of foreshadowing?

You would think so. You would spend the better part of two books thinking so.

One problem with that, though.

She’s using her bow when she dies.

The only reason I can think of to give Birgitte Silverbow a sword is for the tragedy of her lost memories leading her to her doom, and she’s not even wielding one when she dies.

All told, The Sword Thing neglects characterization from earlier books, is inconsistent with characterization presented in the same books, is completely nonsensical on multiple occasions, and fails to show up the one (1) time it would have actually made sense.